• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Happy Homeschool Adventures
  • Kitchen
  • Elementary
  • Preschool
  • Nature
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Kitchen
  • Elementary
  • Preschool
  • Nature
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Kitchen
  • Elementary
  • Preschool
  • Nature
×
Home » In the Kitchen

Australian Rabbit Stew Recipe and Free Printable

72 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe
Australian rabbit stew in a dutch oven

"Long before Italian food had any influence on what Australians were cooking, many Australian recipes for rabbit had all the hallmarks of the Italian classic dish called cacciatore, or hunter's stew. Recipes from the late 1800s cook rabbit with onions, bacon, parsley, and stock. All that was missing was the red wine and tomatoes. But these ingredients did come with European immigration to Australia in the 1950s, as did peppery pancetta, a worthy substitute for bacon."

- Chef Ross Dobson

We have a special kitchen experience for you today and we'd love for you to try it. Are you ready to make an amazing rabbit stew recipe that will have you rethinking your favorite go-to protein?

Grab your free printable recipe with pics at the bottom and discover a new favorite meal for your family as you learn how to cook rabbit together.

Learn more about cooking with kids.

If you enjoy this recipe, you should check out oxtails and pork belly.

Contents hide
1 Free Cooking Course for Families
2 What Does Rabbit Taste Like?
3 Wondering How to Cook Rabbit?
4 Wondering What to Serve with This Rabbit Stew Recipe?
5 Australian Rabbit Stew Recipe
5.1 Ingredients
5.2 1. Cut the Rabbit into 12 Pieces
5.3 2. Weigh the Flour
5.4 3. Add the Butter and Oil to the Pot
5.5 4. Coat the Rabbit Pieces in the Flour Mixture
5.6 5. Add the Rabbit to the Pot
5.7 6. Chop the Vegetables Needed for the Rabbit Stew Recipe
5.8 7. Remove the Rabbit When the Outside is Golden Brown
5.9 8. Add the Vegetables to the Dutch Oven
5.10 9. Thyme for Rabbit Stew
5.11 10. Add the Bay Leaves to the Rabbit Stew Ingredients
5.12 11. Add the Mushrooms to the Pot
5.13 12. Add the Wine to the Dutch Oven
5.14 13. Bring the Pot to a Boil
5.15 14. Add the Tomatoes to the Rabbit Stew Ingredients
5.16 15. Add the Chicken Stock and Bring to a Boil
5.17 16. Place the Rabbit Pieces Back in the Pot
6 Conclusion for Australian Rabbit Stew
7 Free Australian Rabbit Stew Recipe for Pre-Readers and Up
7.1 Montessori Continent Boxes
8 Australian Rabbit Stew
8.1 Equipment
8.2 Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x
8.3 Instructions
8.4 Notes
8.5 Nutrition

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Amazon links are not affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure.

Cover of Australia:  The Cookbook by Chef Ross Dobson

This delicious rabbit stew recipe comes from Australia: The Cookbook by Chef Ross Dobson. We recently made this barbecue prawns recipe from the same cookbook and we couldn't wait to try out this savory rabbit stew.

images of food and description for free cooking lessons for kids

Free Cooking Course for Families

Discover recipes for every continent! Sign up to receive free cooking lessons for the whole family. Learn from some of the most talented chefs around the world, including Ross Dobson, and participate in the quality practical life experiences Montessori education is known for.

a whole rabbit uncooked and on a sheet pan

What Does Rabbit Taste Like?

Rabbit is tender meat with a mild flavor. If you're concerned about gaminess, or tough-textured meat with a strong taste, you're not going to find that here. If you like chicken, then rabbit should be your next adventure in the kitchen.

Wondering How to Cook Rabbit?

Fryers or young rabbits can be prepared in many of the same ways as your favorite chicken recipes. With mature rabbits, you may prefer braised or stewed rabbit recipes.

We've enjoyed braised, poached, smoked, and fried rabbit preparations. I'm looking forward to roasting rabbit next time I work with one.

closeup of smashed red potatoes with bacon

Wondering What to Serve with This Rabbit Stew Recipe?

This Australian rabbit stew recipe calls for mashed potatoes. We enjoyed these smashed red potatoes as a quick, simple, and flavorful side to complement this stew.

kids closing their eyes and imagining Australian rabbit stew in the crock pot

Australian Rabbit Stew Recipe

We're going to show you how to make rabbit stew using minimal equipment and simple tools. Everything is prepared in a dutch oven or large pot. Just make sure you have a sharp knife to butcher the rabbit and you're on your way.

Use caution when preparing this meal with kids. Bones are a choking hazard.

ingredients for making Australian rabbit stew recipe, with labels

Ingredients

  • Whole Rabbit (approx. 2 ¼ lb)
  • All-Purpose Einkorn Flour
  • Salted Butter
  • Avocado Oil
  • Pancetta or Bacon
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Thyme
  • Bay Leaves
  • Portobello Mushrooms
  • Pinot Noir or Other Dry Red Wine
  • Tomatoes
  • Chicken Stock or Broth
  • Parsley
  • Salt
  • Pepper
rabbit cut into 12 pieces and on a sheet pan

1. Cut the Rabbit into 12 Pieces

Whether you're raising rabbits or buying them from a rabbitry or butcher, they're generally packaged whole (minus the head) just like you would find with a whole chicken.

However, you can always ask to have them butchered for you and see if it's worth your while. If you've ever broken down a chicken, you may notice this is easier, in my opinion.

Depending on the ages and abilities of those involved, this may be an activity that parents or caregivers model for kids. Our kids are too young for this task but they happily watch and make observations.

We most commonly butcher rabbit into 8 cuts of meat. This recipe calls for 12, so it's not much additional knife work and it makes the perfect size cuts for rabbit stew.

Wash your hands with soap and water prior to getting started.

infographic displaying rabbit cuts of meat

First, the hind legs are removed at the joint. Cut the hind legs crosswise in the center to separate the shanks. That gives you 4 pieces total.

Next, the front legs are removed to give you 2 more pieces.

Finally, the saddle is cut in half lengthwise down the center, and then each half is cut into 3 pieces, for a total of 6 pieces.

You can save the backbone for your bone broth and wash your hands.

While our kids are learning how to break down a rabbit they're also thumbing through Australia: The Cookbook, exploring the history, landscape photography, and recipes contained inside.

Several of these diverse cookbooks contain rabbit recipes, and we're excited to share this one with you today.

kids weighing flour on a kitchen scale

2. Weigh the Flour

Weigh the flour using a kitchen scale. Add salt and pepper to season the flour.

a partial stick of butter being removed from the wrapper

3. Add the Butter and Oil to the Pot

Turn the stove on medium heat. When the dutch oven or pot is hot, add the butter and oil.

kids wearing aprons standing in a Learning Tower at the stove

Thinking about how delicious this is going to taste.

kids watching butter melt in a dutch oven

When the butter has melted, you're ready for the next step.

rabbit meat on a sheet tray and in a bowl of einkorn flour

4. Coat the Rabbit Pieces in the Flour Mixture

Coat the pieces in the flour. Kids can place each piece in the flour mixture and then flip them over to coat the other side.

rabbit browning in a dutch oven

5. Add the Rabbit to the Pot

Place the rabbit pieces in the pot and cook for about 5 minutes. Turn them frequently to cook both sides of the meat.

While they are cooking, proceed to the next step.

a child holding a knife over a cutting board containing chopped onion

6. Chop the Vegetables Needed for the Rabbit Stew Recipe

Chop the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Now is a good time to cut the pancetta or bacon into small pieces as well.

We had some cooked bacon and some celery leftover from a previous meal so that cut down on our prep time.

cuts of rabbit meat on a plate after browning in a dutch oven

7. Remove the Rabbit When the Outside is Golden Brown

When all of your rabbit pieces are golden, use the tongs to transfer them to a large plate and set aside.

one child stirring vegetables for making Australian rabbit stew.  Another child is pouring chopped celery into the dutch oven

8. Add the Vegetables to the Dutch Oven

Add the pancetta to the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring while it cooks.

If you're using cooked bacon like us you can add that along with the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot.

child holding a bottle of thyme over a dutch oven with ingredients for making rabbit stew

9. Thyme for Rabbit Stew

Add the thyme to the dutch oven.

If your kids are learning about homophones, this is a great time to talk about thyme.

a child standing in a Learning Tower flicking bay leaf into a dutch oven

10. Add the Bay Leaves to the Rabbit Stew Ingredients

Our oldest likes to flick them in with her thumb and index finger. Let the ingredients cook for 5 minutes. Stir the vegetables frequently until they are golden.

vegetables cooking in a dutch oven

11. Add the Mushrooms to the Pot

Cook for 5 minutes. The mushrooms should be dark and soft.

two kids at a stove in a learning tower.  One child is pouring red wine into a dutch oven filled with vegetables.  The other child is watching.

12. Add the Wine to the Dutch Oven

Turn the stove heat up to high. Add the red wine. We used a pinot noir but any dry red wine will do.

Our kids noticed the strong smell of the wine and wondered how it would affect the flavor of the stew.

a stock pot containing vegetables and red wine.  The dutch oven is beginning to boil.

13. Bring the Pot to a Boil

Stir the ingredients to remove any pieces from the bottom of the pot. Allow it to boil for about 5 minutes. There should be little to no wine remaining in the pot.

a dutch oven filled with ingredients for making Australian rabbit stew.  There are tomatoes on top of the broth.

14. Add the Tomatoes to the Rabbit Stew Ingredients

a child is pouring chicken stock into a dutch oven

15. Add the Chicken Stock and Bring to a Boil

Add the chicken stock or broth and half of the parsley. Give it a good stir and let it come to a boil.

While you're waiting, turn the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, 160 degrees Celsius.

Australian rabbit stew in a dutch oven

16. Place the Rabbit Pieces Back in the Pot

Turn off the stove.

Place the rabbit pieces back in the pot, and turn them to coat them in the sauce. Cover the pot with a lid or aluminum foil.

Place the pot in the oven and allow it to cook for 2 hours. The rabbit should be cooked through and tender.

Remove the pot from the oven and add the remaining parsley on top.

Don't forget to turn off the oven.

Serve hot with your smashed or mashed potatoes.

Conclusion for Australian Rabbit Stew

This tasty rabbit stew recipe is a lot of fun to make and the opportunities to extend the learning are endless. What do you think? Would you like to try this at home with your family? If you do, come back and let us know how it went.

Ingredients list and recipe instruction cards snippet for making Australian rabbit stew

Free Australian Rabbit Stew Recipe for Pre-Readers and Up

Grab your free printable recipe cards above. Kids can gather ingredients using the ingredient list, gather their equipment with the tools list, and prepare the meal using the step-by-step recipe cards, with assistance as needed.

The cards are easy to use, include pictures, and encourage confidence and independence in the kitchen. They also make an excellent addition to your Montessori continent box for Oceania.

Montessori Continent Boxes

Explore every continent with these solid maple hardwood boxes.

Shop Now
Treasures From Jennifer Montessori Continent Boxes with Schleich animals on top

Australian rabbit stew in a dutch oven

Australian Rabbit Stew

Kristin
This Australian rabbit stew recipe explores "What Does Rabbit Taste Like?" before teaching you how to cook rabbit in order to create a delicious stew.
5 from 1 vote
Pin Recipe Print Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 1 hour hr
Cook Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Australian
Servings 8 people
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

  • Apron
  • Prep Bowls
  • Cutting Board
  • Sharp Knife
  • Child-Friendly Knife
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Measuring Cup
  • Kitchen Scale
  • Sheet Pan or Large Plate
  • Dutch Oven or Large Ovenproof Pot
  • Spoon
  • Tongs
  • Learning Tower as needed
  • Australia: The Cookbook

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 whole rabbit
  • 7 oz all-purpose einkorn flour
  • 3 ½ tablespoon salted butter
  • 6 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 3 ½ oz pancetta or bacon
  • 1 onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 2 teaspoon thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 14 oz portobello mushrooms
  • 1 ⅓ cups pinot noir or other dry red wine
  • 28 oz whole tomatoes
  • ½ cup chicken stock or broth
  • ¾ oz parsley
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions 

  • Wash your hands with soap and water prior to getting started. First, the hind legs are removed at the joint. Cut the hind legs crosswise in the center to separate the shanks. Next, the front legs are removed to give you 2 more pieces. Finally, the saddle is cut in half lengthwise down the center, and then each half is cut into 3 pieces, for a total of 6 pieces. You can save the backbone for making bone broth and wash your hands. Kids can explore the cookbook as they observe.
  • Weigh the flour using a kitchen scale. Add salt and pepper to season the flour.
  • Turn the stove on medium heat. When the dutch oven or pot is hot, add the butter and oil. When the butter has melted, you're ready for the next step.
  • Coat the pieces in the flour. Kids can place each piece in the flour mixture and then flip them over to coat the other side.
  • Place the rabbit pieces in the pot and cook for about 5 minutes. Turn them frequently to cook both sides of the meat. While they're cooking proceed to the next step.
  • Chop the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Now is a good time to cut the pancetta or bacon into small pieces as well.
  • When all of your rabbit pieces are golden, use the tongs to transfer them to a large plate and set aside.
  • Add the pancetta to the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring while it cooks. If you're using cooked bacon, you can add that along with the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot.
  • Add the thyme to the dutch oven. If your kids are learning about homophones, this is a great time to talk about thyme.
  • Add the bay leaves to the dutch oven. Let the ingredients cook for 5 minutes. Stir the vegetables frequently until they are golden.
  • Add the mushrooms to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes. The mushrooms should be dark and soft.
  • Turn the stove heat up to high. Add the red wine. 
  • Stir the ingredients to remove any pieces from the bottom of the pot. Allow it to boil for about 5 minutes. There should be little to no wine remaining in the pot.
  • Add the tomatoes to the rabbit stew ingredients.
  • Add the chicken stock or broth and half of the parsley. Give it a good stir and let it come to a boil. While you're waiting, turn the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, 160 degrees Celsius.
  • Turn off the stove. Place the rabbit pieces back in the pot, and turn them to coat them in the sauce. Cover the pot with a lid or aluminum foil. Place the pot in the oven and allow it to cook for 2 hours. The rabbit should be cooked through and tender. Remove the pot from the oven and add the remaining parsley on top. Don't forget to turn off the oven. Serve hot with your smashed or mashed potatoes.

Notes

  • Wash tools and equipment after touching raw meat
  • Do not rinse raw meat
  • Wash produce under running water
  • Use a vegetable brush to scrub firm produce
  • Use caution when preparing this meal with kids as bones are a choking hazard
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
  • See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
  • Full Lesson Info and Pictures at:  https://happyhomeschooladventures.com/rabbit-stew

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 34gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 348mgPotassium: 973mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3071IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 6mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More In the Kitchen

  • chicken drumsticks in a bowl of barbecue marinade
    Southern Barbecue Chicken Marinade from The African-American Heritage Cookbook
  • ground bison meat and homemade tomato sauce on a butcher block beside Noah chopping celery
    Homemade Tomato Sauce, Salsa di Pomodoro from An Italian Feast
  • bison bolognese in a baking dish beside An Italian Feast cookbook
    Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce, Tagliatelle con Ragù alla Bolognese
  • salsa verde and rib eye on a butcher block
    Simple Italian Salsa Verde from Why I Cook

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Kristin from Happy Homeschool Adventures

Hi, I'm Kristin!

I'm a Montessori homeschooler of 4 living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I'm a nature lover and environmental minimalist sharing my experience in guiding kids from the back of the boat.

More About Me ➜

Our Land Acknowledgement

We reside on the ancestral lands of the Kalapuya and Luckiamute Tribes as well as the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.  The land was ceded in the Ratified Indian Treaty #282 on January 22, 1855.  The languages of the Indigenous peoples of this area are Kalapuya and Chinuk Wawa.


Trending

  • deep-fried drop biscuits with cinnamon sugar on a rack
    Easy Deep-Fried Drop Biscuits - Free Printable
  • closeup of Hoppin' John cooking in a copper saucier
    Easy Hoppin' John With Carolina Gold Rice - Free Printable
  • meatballs, sausage, and braciole in sauce in a Dutch oven beside baking dish of rigatoni
    Sunday Gravy with Italian Meatballs & Braciole from Why I Cook
  • Summer Morning Basket with books and activities on a rug next to a pillow and blanket
    Summer Morning Basket With Printable Checklist

In Season

  • freshly baked Turmeric and Nigella Seed Easter Bread on a Made In baking slab
    Turmeric & Nigella Seed Easter Bread with Free Printable
  • Le Sud cookbook and vegan chickpea salad from the cookbook
    Vegan Chickpea Salad from Le Sud
  • close up of Persian-style rice and shrimp in a serving bowl
    Persian Rice and Shrimp with Free Printable
  • zucchini pancake on a plate topped with sour cream and dill
    Zucchini Pancakes with Chanterelles, Cukinijų Blyneliai su Voveraitėmis, from Taste Lithuania

Footer

as seen in:

rent logo

I was named an expert in a Rent. article. Check out the featured
article: Homeschool Activities | Rent.

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Newsletter

  • Join Us! for emails and updates

Copyright © 2025 · Happy Homeschool Adventures

72 shares

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.